XXXVl INTRODUCTION. 



portions of his correspondence with Prinsep, which 

 relate to the researches of these two distinguished 

 scholars regarding the Pali annals of Ceylon. I have 

 also to acknowledge my obligations to M. JULES MOHL, 

 the literary executor of M. E. BURNOUF, for the use of 

 papers left by that eminent orientalist in illustration of 

 the ancient geography of the island, as exhibited in the 

 works of Pali and Sanskrit writers. 



I have been signally assisted in my search for mate- 

 rials illustrative of the social and intellectual condition 

 of the Singhalese nation, during the early ages of their 

 history, by gentlemen in Ceylon, whose familiarity with 

 the native languages and literature impart authority 

 to their communications ; by ERNEST DE SAKAM WIJEYE- 

 SEKEEE KAROONARATNE, the Maha-Moodliar and First 

 Interpreter to the Governor ; and to Mr. DE ALWIS, the 

 erudite translator of the Sidath Sangara. From the 

 Kev. Mr. GOGERLY of the Wesleyan Mission, I have 

 received expositions of Buddhist policy ; and the Rev. 

 R. SPENCE HARDY, author of the two most important 

 modern works on the archaeology of Buddhism 1 , has 

 done me the favour to examine the chapter on SING- 

 HALESE Literature, and to enrich it by numerous sug- 

 gestions and additions. 



In like manner I have had the advantage of com- 

 municating with Mr. COOLEY (author of the History of 

 Maritime and Inland Discovery) in relation to the 

 Mediaeval History of Ceylon, and the period embraced 

 by the narrative of the Greek, Arabian, and Italian 

 travellers, between the fifth and fifteenth centuries. 



1 Oriental Monachism, 8vo. London, 1850; and A Manual of Buddhism, 

 8vo. Londou, 1853. 



